Opposition parties, including DMK and DMDK, today condemned the bomb blasts on board the Bangalore-Guwahati express even as it slammed the state government on the law and order situation.
DMK president M Karunanidhi recalled the recent arrest of Mohamed Zahir Hussain, suspected of having links with Indian terror modules, and charged that lack of proper steps in the wake of his nabbing has led to such an incident today.
He said Jayalalithaa, by virtue of holding the Home Portfolio, should guide the police force and with the Chief Minister "not in the capital even during such critical juncture (post Hussain arrest)" there were no proper security measures that could have averted today's incident.
"Even after the arrest of that terrorist, because proper precautionary measures were not taken, bombs exploded at Central Railway station," he said, claiming that a thorough investigation of the ISI operative could have revealed today's plot also.
"But, the Chief Minister who is in-charge of the Police department has left for Kodanadu," he said. People in many parts of the state were already facing issues like water shortage, he added.
After undertaking a massive election campaign running to almost two months, Jayalalithaa had last week left for the Kodanadu in the hill district of Nilgiris from where she is discharging her official duty.
Both Karunanidhi and DMDK founder and Opposition Leader, Vijayakant condemned the bomb blasts and expressed their sympathies with the victims and their families.
CPI(M) also condemned the blasts and party's state unit secretary G Ramakrishnan demanded that those behind the incident be arrested at the earlier.
MDMK founder Vaiko, TNCC president BS Gnanadesikan and PMK leader S Ramadoss also condemned the blasts, that left one woman dead and 14 others injured.
